Kyshona – Legacy
This set chronicles Kyshona’s research into her own family & their individual stories. In a word, she’s writing about things far closer to home than most artists explore. A confessional album? Or a personal history lesson?
To bring it to life the resources included guest contributions from well-known artists & some co-writing of songs that helped to shape its authenticity. The 16-track musical memoir Legacy (Dropped April 26/Soundly Music/50:00) was produced by Kyshona & Rachael Moore. Recorded in Memphis, TN the CD takes an assortment of heartfelt paths into gospel, soul, folk & blues to document the narrative effectively.
Whether this endeavor, an intense undertaking, will translate as a poignant chronicle for an audience & be enough is the question. At the same time will it be entertaining? I found it so. But I will focus on the music & performances rather than the personal historics.
One would think this would be carved out of varied musical stones. Instead, what opens this set (“Elephants”) is a heavenly significant spiritual saturated with a mosaic of voices. And Kyshona’s singular voice nourishes each note. It comes into even sharper focus on “What’s In a Name.”
What slowly unravels are gentle musical breezes. Early Joan Armatrading & later Tracy Chapman. The voices gel like the vocalists from View from the Hill with Angela Wynter on their 1987 LP which defied categorization, especially their “No Conversation.” It’s probably adult contemporary but it has such an illuminating expressive edge.
Kyshona blends a rural melodic sensibility into “Waitin’ On the Lawd,” much the same way The Fairfield Four & Staples Singers did. Echoes of Mavis Staples penetrate silky smooth on “Carolina.” More rocking & ear-tugging is “Whispers In the Wall” & “Come Out Swingin.’” Both exquisite. For emphasis, I’ll say it again, exquisite.
There’s a soulful pouring of notes throughout. It comes with the more bountiful numbers or haunting ballads, but the production is always faithful & breathes with excellent separation between instruments & voices.
Highlights – “Elephants,” “The Echo,” “Waitin’ On the Lawd,” “Whispers In the Wall,” “Heaven Is a Beautiful Place,” “Always a Daughter,” “What’s In a Name,” “Come Out Swingin,’” “Carolina” & “Interlude: A Word/16 Covered.”
Musicians – Kyshona (vocals/acoustic guitar/tambourine/claps/rain stick/percussion) & Rachael Moore (drum programming/synth/synth bass/harmonium/claps/strings/singing bowls), Will Sexton (electric & acoustic guitars), Dave Smith & Jackie Clark (bass), Ellen Angelico (acoustic & electric guitars/vocal), Gary Goin (electric guitar), Steve Potts & Peewee Jackson (drums), Jamie Dick (drums/congas/percussion/handclaps/shaker/tambourine), Larissa Maestro (cello), Al Gamble (Wurlitzer/B3/synth/piano), Michelle Conceison (claps), Kristin Weber (violin), Chris Pierce (vocal/harmonica), Joshua David Davis (piano), Marc Franklin, Kirk Smothers & Art Edmaiston (horns) & Keb’ Mo (electric guitar/tambourine/vocal).
Singers – Ruthie Foster, Nickie Conley, Maureen Murphy, Kelvin, Natasha, Nolanie, Kelvin Jr., Kaylen & Bettye Armstrong.
Color photos courtesy of Anna Haas. CD @ Apple & https://www.kyshona.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: “Listen” by Kyshona Armstrong is Music Therapy for the Soul
